The Giants run Jaxson Dart, but they won’t rush him.
Dart did not clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in time to play Sunday against the Lions, head coach Mike Kafka announced before Friday’s practice.
Jameis Winston will make his second consecutive start.
There was optimism early in the week that Dart – who was back on the practice field last Friday for the first time since his concussion on Nov. 9 – would advance through the five stages by the end of this week.
But he repeated the limited non-contact practice Wednesday and Thursday.
It left him time to gain medical clearance after practicing in full Friday, but the Giants are not taking any chances.
Dart has been checked for a concussion four times as a rookie, but he passed the first three tests.
“He’s looked great,” Winston said when asked how Dart looked in Thursday’s practice. “Nothing’s changed. He’s a young superstar, and he’s continued to improve every day.”
No two concussions are exactly the same.
Daniel Jones returned from a concussion without missing a game for the Giants in 2021, while the Texans’ C.J. Stroud missed his third straight game Thursday night due to a concussion.
Like Jones, Dart is a dual-threat who is learning on the fly how to not leave himself susceptible to big hits in the NFL. The Giants could do him a favor by calling fewer designed runs.
“We’re all crossing our fingers for (Dart),” interim head coach Mike Kafka said before Thursday’s practice. “Hopefully it all comes out clear. It’s up to the doctors. When he’s live and ready to go, we’ll fire him up.”
Winston, who began the season as a third-stringer, will be backed up by Russell Wilson. He led three touchdown drives against the Packers but committed two fourth-quarter turnovers.
“You never know when those opportunities come around,” Winston said. “I was just ready for it. I wanted to get us a win. At the end of the day, that’s all I would love. I was grateful to be back there competing – just ball and have fun with the guys.”
Dart’s next chance to play would be Dec. 1 on “Monday Night Football” against the Patriots.
